Corrupt cops. A semi-literate suspect in the wrong place at the wrong time. Oh, and a supercilious prosecuting lawyer.

Throw in a racially prejudiced judicial system and there's only one vital courtroom drama ingredient missing.

Step forward young Australian liberal lawyer David O'Sullivan (Carlyle) and his brusque legal partner Helen Devaney (Fox).

They've got the job of defending young Aborigine Max Stuart (Ngoombujarra), who's been charged with the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl.

The case takes David and Helen from the comfortable late 1950s city of Adelaide to the far western desert town of Ceduna.

It soon becomes obvious that the bigoted local police have forced a confession...but slimy lawyer Charles Dance objects to him testifying in court.

The plucky legal team is then forced to take the cast to the highest court in the Commonwealth...but is the level of prejudice the same?

It's just a shame director Craig Lahiff hasn't applied to the principles of the title to the plot.

Dry and dusty, the narrative lacks bite and gets bogged down in procedural complexity while it emerges Stuart may not have been as innocent as claimed.

Notable appearances include Vertical Limit's Ben Mendelsohn as crusading journalist...Rupert Murdoch.

Sorry to say, but the dread phrase "TV Movie" springs to mind. Black and White could have done with a bit of colour.

Tim Evans